I really enjoy the aesthetic of two-colored Scandinavian mittens. I find the process of knitting them to be almost meditative, chanting in my head “black, white, white, black, white” while following along the chart. Prairie winters are cold and harsh, making mittens a necessity. I figure if I have to wear them all the time, they better be pretty!

Drawing from Scandinavian design (as well as some Latvian inspiration in the cuff braids) and the distinct elements of a cuckoo clock, I set out to make myself the ultimate meditative mitten project. The cuff is the foundation of the mitten, bricks flanked by Latvian Braids (my new favorite cuff) which have just enough stability to keep the stockinette from curling. Above that are the parts of a cuckoo clock: door, lattice work, windows and of course, the clock at the top. The palm of the mitten is a simple pattern framing hearts and flowers. On the afterthought thumb is the tiny cuckoo bird, singing his song.

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference: 8 inches
Length: 9.5 inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
The Loopy Ewe Solid Series Fingering [100% Superwash Merino; 220 yds per 55g skein]
[MC] blue: Robin’s Egg Blue; 1 skein
[CC] purple: Blackberry; 1 skein

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1  set(s) US #1/2.25mm double-point needles
OR
1 32 inch long #1/2.25mm circular needle for magic loop method
OR
2 shorter US #1/2.25mm circular needles for two-circulars method

Notions
Yarn needle
Scrap Yarn in contrasting color to mark thumb placement

GAUGE
38 sts/40 rounds = 4 in stockinette stitch in the round

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Latvian Braid
This mitten uses a Latvian Braid on the cuff. The braid is worked over two rows of purling. To set up the braid, the row before needs to reflect what is going to happen. In the case of this pattern, the row before the braid is worked alternating one stitch MC with one stitch CC, all stitches knitted. It is really important to the braid to line up the colors.

A Latvian Braid is essentially inside-out colorwork, with the strands on the outside making up the braid. Hold the two strands in front as if to purl.  The first round has the yarns wrap over each other; the second round has the yarns wrap under each other.  After finishing the first round of the braid your two strands of yarn will be really twisted around each other. Don't worry about this or fix it, in the second row you will reverse the twisting!

Round 1: [P1 MC, p1 CC] to end.  When switching yarns, wrap the yarn for the new stitch over the yarn used for the previous stitch.
Round 2: [P1 MC, p1 CC] to end.  When switching yarns, wrap the yarn for the new stitch under the yarn used for the previous stitch.

Reversing these two rows – as done at the top of the cuff - makes a braid going in the opposite direction.

Instructions for the Long-Tail Cast On can be found here.

Instructions for Kitchener Stitch can be found here.

DIRECTIONS

Lower Edge
Round 1: Knit.
Round 2: Purl.
Round 3: [K1 MC, k1 CC] to end.
Rounds 4 & 5: Work Latvian Braid. 

Mitten Body
Round 1: K2tog MC (this is stitch 1 of the chart), work to end of round as per Chart Round 1, starting with stitch 2.

Continue as established until Round 20 of Chart is complete.

Round 21: Work first 38 sts as charted; on rem 37 sts, work Round 2 of Latvian Braid.

Round 22: Work first 38 sts as charted; on rem 37 sts, work Round 1 of Latvian Braid.

Continue as established until Round 43 of Chart is complete.

Round 44, right mitten: K1 MC as per chart, work 13 sts with scrap yarn, slip them back to the left hand needle and work to end of round as charted.

Round 44, left mitten: Work 23 sts as charted, work 13 sts with scrap yarn, slip them back to the left hand needle and work to end of round as charted.

Continue as established until Chart is complete.  36 sts rem.

Divide these onto two needles and graft together using Kitchener Stitch and MC.

Thumb
Carefully remove scrap yarn and place the stitches from the top and bottom of the gap onto two needles.  26 sts total – 13 on top, 13 on the bottom.

Pick up a stitch on each end of both needles – 15 sts on top, 15 on bottom; 30 total.
Divide sts as you prefer, rejoin yarn at the rightmost of the lower stitches. The thumb chart has different fronts and backs, and the first half of the chart is to be facing out when the mittens are worn.  See pictures for a guide.

Join for working in the round and work the thumb as charted.  After Round 28, 16 sts rem.

Divide them between two needles and graft together using Kitchener Stitch.

FINISHING
Weave in the ends and block.

Odessa found herself staying at home with her two sons after finishing her BFA. Having originally started knitting in high school she got back into it as a way to relax and as a creative outlet on which to project her love of color and design.